Insightful human portraits made from data | R. Luke DuBois

TL;DR

This content explores the intersection between art, data, and technology through the lens of various artistic projects.

Transcript

So I'm an artist, but a little bit of a peculiar one. I don't paint. I can't draw. My shop teacher in high school wrote that I was a menace on my report card. You probably don't really want to see my photographs. But there is one thing I know how to do: I know how to program a computer. I can code. And people will tell me that 100 years ago, folks ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎵 Music is an art form that has been using algorithms to evoke emotions for thousands of years.
• 🎨 Programming can be used to create visually stunning and thought-provoking art that combines sound and image.
• 🎥 Understanding the history of Hollywood editing can be revealed through a project that strings together one-minute clips of every Academy Award Best Picture winner.
• 🔍 Surveillance and obsession with celebrity are explored through a project that uses facial recognition technology to center Britney Spears' eyes in any footage. ⏳ Performance art can be created by stretching and reversing time, resulting in a mesmerizing portrayal of movement.
• 🖼️ Portraiture can be reimagined by using words from speeches and online dating profiles to create meaningful and personal representations.
• 🌍 Mapping language usage in different areas provides insights into cultural nuances and identities.
• 😄 Social media and technology have transformed how we create and interact with art, as showcased through the analysis of selfies taken in Times Square.
• 🛠️ Artists have a responsibility to question and explore the impact of technology on art and society.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the art form that the speaker suggests has been around for a long time and involves using abstract information?

The art form that the speaker suggests has been around for a long time and involves using abstract information is music.

Q: How does the speaker use an image to unveil a musical structure?

The speaker uses an image to unveil a musical structure by having the image drawn by the musical structure of the musicians on stage. The underlying algorithmic biology of a plant, for example, informs the musical structure and creates a visual representation.

Q: What project did the speaker create for the Sundance Film Festival?

The speaker created a project for the Sundance Film Festival where every Academy Award Best Picture was sped up to one minute each and strung together. This project showcases the history of Hollywood cinema and specifically highlights the history of editing in Hollywood.

Q: What is the purpose of the speaker's project involving the surveillance of Britney Spears?

The purpose of the speaker's project involving the surveillance of Britney Spears is to comment on the anxiety society has about being watched while simultaneously obsessing over celebrity. It repurposes code designed to find specific actors in video footage and trains it to find Britney Spears' face and center it in the frame.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker is an artist and programmer who uses data to create art, particularly in the form of music and visuals.

• He has created various projects that explore different aspects of society, such as the history of Hollywood cinema, surveillance in celebrity culture, and online dating profiles.

• He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that we are more than just numbers and statistics, and that art can shed light on our dreams and ideas.